Canadian NGO receives 344 entries for $35M carbon use challenge
by Canadian Manufacturing Daily Staff
CCEMC says 25 per cent of submissions came from small and medium-sized enterprises
EDMONTON—An Alberta-based NGO announced it has received more than 340 submissions from around the world for funding from its five-year, $35-million competition aimed at developing carbon utilization technologies.
According to the Climate Change and Emissions Management Corporation (CCEMC), it has received 344 submissions—including 96 from Canada—in the first round of funding for its international Grand Challenge.
The CCEMC, an NGO dedicated to funding projects that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, launched the Grand Challenge in a bid to develop projects that utilize at least one net megatonne of greenhouse gases annually when fully commercialized.
“The response to the first round of the CCEMC Grand Challenge surpassed our expectations,” CCEMC chair Eric Newell said in a challenge update.
“We are optimistic that this open innovation competition will foster multiple technologies that can be deployed in Alberta to convert carbon into useful products and complement other greenhouse gas reduction strategies currently in development in the province.”
According to the CCEMC, organizations from 37 countries submitted proposals.
Of the 344 proposals received, 31 per cent were from academic institutions, and 25 per cent were from small and medium-sized enterprises.
Another 15 per cent of proposals came from large corporations, and 11 per cent were from inventors.
The CCEMC said submissions were also received from consultants, research organizations, government labs and not-for-profit corporations.
The CCEMC technical team is now reviewing submissions, and shortlisted projects will be invited to submit comprehensive proposals.
As many as 20 proponents will be selected to receive grants of up to $500,000 to support the development of their technologies.
The successful candidates will be announced in April 2014 at a conference in Edmonton.
The second round of the CCEMC Grand Challenge launches in 2015 and will be open to both new entrants and winners from the first round.
Up to five projects will receive grants of up to $3-million each to develop their technologies.
The final winning solution will be announced in 2018, with the winner receiving a $10-million grant to support technology commercialization.
In addition to the Grand Challenge, the CCEMC provides funding for projects that will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invites submissions for funding twice each year.
